Property owners and/or property managers have a legal obligation to maintain their property in a way that is safe for all those who enter. This applies to private property owners, commercial property owners, even state and locally-managed property and government buildings. Failure to maintain the property, and failure to address any hazards that may lead to injury, is a failure of this legal obligation, and in the event that someone is injured due to an avoidable hazard, the victim may be entitled to seek compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property and you believe that the cause of your accident was a hazard that the owner or manager should have addressed, then you have rights. Working with a lawyer is the most effective way to navigate this complicated process, but finding an attorney to take your case is not always the easiest process. Luckily, we are here to help.
Contact CarAccidentAttorney.com To Connect With a Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
CarAccidentAttorney.com is an attorney and medical referral service. In the days and weeks after suffering from an injury, taking on the burden of trying to locate an attorney who is ready and available to take your case can seem overwhelming. This is one reason why many people file insurance claims without the help of an attorney, which could ultimately cost them a significant amount of money by ultimately receiving a far lower settlement from the insurance company than they would have otherwise gotten with the help of an experienced lawyer.
Read more below to get a better understanding of slip and fall accidents, and contact us now to connect with a slip and fall attorney in Jacksonville with ease. This important step can be the difference between financial stability and having to take on the financial burden of someone else’s actions.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall is one type of premise liability claim, which results from a visitor to a premise being injured due to improper care or maintenance that the owner is responsible for. A slip and fall is specifically referring to instances where the victim, as the name implies, slips or falls, due to things like wet floors, tripping hazards, and other safety issues.
Examples of Slip and Fall Accidents
The following are just a few of the many different ways that someone can be hurt in a slip and fall accident. Whether or not you see your own accident listed below, contact CarAccidentAttorney.com now to be connected with an attorney who can help you make sense of your situation and how you can move forward.
Wet Floors
When you see a bright yellow sign in the aisle of a grocery store stating “WET FLOOR,” this is done to warn you of a slipping hazard. If there are no efforts to warn you of this hazard and you are injured, then you may have a right for compensation.
Code Violations
US building codes are set out with the intention of keeping new construction safe for all who interact with it, and willingly violating these codes can lead to injuries. For example, a stair tread that is too shallow can cause someone to overstep and fall down the stairs.
Stray Cords and Wires
When you are walking through a shopping plaza and there is an extension cord running across the walkway, this is a serious tripping hazard that can cause someone to suffer from major injuries.
Poor Lighting
Lighting is an important aspect of safety on a property, and if you are trying to navigate a poorly-lit area and are injured because of a hazard that you were unable to see because of poor lighting, then you may be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries.
Who Is Responsible For a Slip and Fall Accident?
In order to determine who is at fault, and therefore legally liable, for your accident, you may need to do some research. The legal process for seeking damages from a private property owner is different from seeking compensation from a company or a government, and your attorney will be the one who can be most helpful in understanding how to handle this process.
Many commercial spaces are leased out to a business from the property owner or the owner’s management company, and there are likely contracts that designate what areas the owner is responsible for, and what the lessee is responsible for. Depending on the cause of the injury, the owner or the lessee may be responsible for the injury. However, there are additional possibilities that there are third-party companies contracted for specific duties and tasks, and they may ultimately be held liable.
When you are injured on private property, it is likely that the property owner is responsible for the injuries, but even this may vary depending on certain legal agreements and contracts that you are not yet aware of. Again, working with an attorney is the preferred way to understand how to move forward, and who you should be seeking compensation from.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Claims
The following are just a few examples of the questions that you and your attorney will be able to take a closer look at and get specific answers to your unique situation. Remember that the answers below are intended to give you a general idea of how these questions are specifically answered, and the only way that you can get actual legal advice is to work with a legal professional who is equipped to provide you with answers as they pertain to your own case.